Studying Representation: Ethnicity LO: To understand the stereotypes associated with different ethnic groups To analyse these stereotypes in the clip presented

Judging a book by its ethnicity.. VrjdE_I VrjdE_I

A reminder: Representation Representation is:  The constructed and mediated presentation of people, things, ideas and places etc… and  The process by which the media present the ‘real world’  People and places are re-presented in ways which may or may not be accurate

Representation: Ethnicity Ethnicity, like sex, is a set of genetically defined, biological characteristics. However, like gender, it is also associated with a set of culturally defined characteristics. Representations of ethnicity in the media can consist of the same sort of rigid stereotypes that constitute gender portrayal. However, stereotyping of race is seen as more harmful than stereotyping of gender, as media representation may constitute the only experience of contact with a particular ethnic group that an audience (particularly an audience of children) may have.

Racial stereotypes are often based on social myth, perpetuated down the ages. Thus, the media depiction of, say, Native American Indians, might provide a child with their only experience of Native American Indian culture and characters, and may provide that child with a set of narrow prejudices which will not be challenged elsewhere within their experience. Why is it important?

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Caution!! Be very careful when discussing this representation. It is important to use appropriate terminology and not to cause offence in any way. The following phrase is useful when discussing this area: “Stereotypically people are……….”

Also…. It is important to consider the positioning of the spectator when analysing a TV drama clip. Often, we assume that when stereotyping occurs, it is a white person who is spectating or watching. Interpretation of the clip differs foreach individual, but then analysing the concept of ethnicity, just like gender, it is important to consider the position of the spectator making the judgement. It is important to consider the target audience of the programme. For example, if a TV programme is made for a specific black/ asian audience does this influence the stereotypes involved?

Group Work On the tables are sheets with different regions from around the world: African/Afro-Caribbean Asian Latin American Middle Eastern/Arabic/ Eastern European European/American

Group Work You have five minutes to discuss any stereotypes people from these regions have been given in the media. After five minutes you will move to the next region. Read what the other group has written and discuss what is there. Do you agree? Can you add any?

Representation of Ethnicity

The need for a more accurate portrayal of the diversity of different races is a priority for political agendas, but, as ever, it seems as though it will take a while for political thinking to filter through to TV programme and film-making. Hollywood movies seem to be particular offenders when it comes to lazy racial stereotypes.

A lot of work on Race & Media has focused on the representation of black men and women. This has partly been because there is a strong African-American counter-culture which provides viable alternative role models and demands that they are represented, and partly because some of the early racial stereotypes were so obvious and offensive. African-American Representation

In recent years, the success of actors as diverse as Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Taraji P. Henson, Naomie Harris, Laurence Fishburne, Keke Palmer and Morgan Freeman in roles across the board has meant that black characters in movies and on TV are no longer 'stock' types. Some of the time.

Are stereotypical views changing? /08/person-of-colour-hollywood-films- diversity

Amandla Stenberg, 16: ‘What if America Loved Black People as Much as Black Culture?’ “Appropriation occurs when a style leads to racist generalizations or stereotypes where it originated but is deemed as high-fashion, cool or funny when the privileged take it for themselves,” Stenberg explains in her video, appropriately titled “Don’t Cash Crop My Cornrows.” “Hip hop stems from a black struggle, it stems from jazz and blues, styles of music African-Americans created to retain humanity in the face of adversity,” Stenberg said. “On a smaller scale but in a similar vein, braids and cornrows are not merely stylistic. They’re necessary to keep black hair neat.”

Stenberg says artists like Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus are examples of white mainstream musicians whose music videos are proof that cultural appropriation runs rampant. She then points to black artists like Azealia Banks who have been vocal about these issues, while also thoughtfully tying in recent protests against police brutality and institutionalized racism to underscore that black lives matter.

I Know Black People— effective satire from Dave Chappelle I Know Black People Different viewpoints of African- American Representation

Whether it's an "all black" episode of Eastenders or a hard-hitting edition of Panorama about teenage racists on a London housing estate, there will continue to be heated discussions about how different races are represented, and how that representation affects the way people treat each other in reality"all black" episode of Eastendersteenage racists on a London housing estate

Double standards? Mindy Kaling is a boss. Widely regarded by her coworkers and by critics alike as the best writer for the popular sitcom The Office, since September she’s been staring in, writing, producing and directing her own primetime TV show, The Mindy Project, which just wrapped up its first season and has been picked up for a second. The Mindy Project is the first TV sitcom staring an Indian- American: definitely an historic achievement. Importantly, just a few days into the start of the season, trolls, in the form of TV-critics- who-write-under-cover-of-internet, lost their collective minds and began harping on Mindy Kaling’s smug and self-satisfied nature.

Writer Nisha Chittal wrote Writer Nisha Chittal wrote a great piece for Racialicous in which she breaks down the root causes of this tedious and predictable resistance to Mindy’s success, comparing it to the kind of response given to young white women leading a show: When Lena Dunham launched Girls, Dunham was praised for creating and portraying a character not typically seen on TV screens: a young, post-college, average-looing, single woman with romantic woes, whose flaws and insecurities are on display. Kaling portrays a similarly flawed character, but has not received the same praise. Bloggers and critics hailed Dunham’s characters as relatable, real women. But I haven’t seen one critic yet say “I can see myself in Mindy’s character,” the way many described the appeal of Dunham’s Girls.

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Studying Representation: Ethnicity LO: : To identify and comment on use/effect of editing, camera shots, mise-en-scene and sound in the clips To discuss whether ethnic stereotypes are reinforced or opposed

Starter Discussion In your groups discuss how the British media used to represent people from different countries. Have these representations changed?

British Citizenship Test Eliminating Ethnic and Racial Stereotypes ourlanguages.gc.ca/quiz/jeux-quiz-ethnique- ethnic-eng.php

“Hotel Babylon” Watch the clip twice and note down how race is represented in the clip. Are the stereotypes reinforced or opposed? 4bRs&list=PLCE549D17B170F6E1&index=20 &feature=plpp_video

A panning camera shot shows us the different ethnic groups, eating in a canteen. The low key lighting in this shot, together with the view from the windows- brick walls- suggests that these groups are lower in society, and are hidden away from the upper class word of the hotel. Each ethnic group are pictured sitting separately. Our attention is draw to the black couple, Adam and Rachel, via a wide shot, on which the camera stops. They are dressed as cleaners, with fits the stereotypes associated with this group. Shot reverse shot is used to establish the relationship between these characters, which at first seems equal. Their NVC suggests they are religious- stereotype associated with this group- and also highlights that it is the man who is the dominant figure in this relationship.

The high angle mid shot of the black male character in this scene challenges traditional established stereotypes in TV Drama. As the camera looks down on the man, it suggests that he is socially inferior due perhaps to his ethnicity. However, the use of diegetic dialogue in this scene when the man states “I wasn’t always a cleaner”, challenges these stereotypical assumptions. The man, was in fact a doctor, and has been forced to take on the role of a cleaner due to his illegal status. A two shot at the beginning of the clip draws our attention to another black character. He is dressed smartly, in a suit, which suggests that he is of social importance and is perhaps a manager. This challenges the representation of ethnicity in the clip, as most of the other non white characters in the clip have lower status jobs. The diegetic dialogue reveals him to be well spoken and fluent in English, in comparison to the other characters in the clip who are represented as struggling with this language.

British Drama- “Spooks” Watch the following clip twice. Does this clip reinforce or oppose the stereotype we have of different races? KZ-8

Analytical Essay Answer the following question: Discuss the representation of Ethnicity in a clip of your choice. Refer to the following: Camera shots, editing, sound and mise-en- scene.